[throwDec19]

We get heavily clamped down on access to production by our auditors for Sarbane Oxley reason. Technically we aren't even allowed production data in our dev environment. I dont understand why any organization would allow it. Seems the tech world is still ripe to get sued.

[KptMarchewa]

Because most of the world (also, as in industries) isn't under those type of laws.

[throwawayboise]

Organizations did (do?) allow it because it's easy. It's also a way to test/debug production problems with actual production data instead of spending time trying to make up data that you hope covers all the actual use cases.

[vasco]

It's also lazy and doesn't respect the privacy of your users.